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The Klay Thompson saga figures to be one of the most interesting of the entire offseason as the future Hall of Famer contemplates how the remainder of his career will finish out.
Option one: he returns to Golden State, tries to run it back with the team he won four NBA titles with, and goes out as a lifetime Warrior.
Option two: he goes elsewhere, looks to remind the world of the sharpshooting player he is, and helps a young team get over the hump and potentially win a fifth ring.
According to Anthony Slater of The Athletic, “Despite public declarations from all the figurehead Warriors about their desire to bring Thompson back and confidence he’ll ultimately return, there is no certainty behind the scenes that Thompson’s future in the Bay Area is a foregone conclusion.”
Marc Stein reported back in February that there was increased momentum behind the idea of Thompson linking up with the Magic and bringing his expert shooting to a young team desperately in need of it in order to take the next step.
Thompson would fit Orlando, and would bring the deep ball to the Magic, but it would feel…wrong. It would feel very much like Patrick Ewing playing for Seattle or a beat-up Shaquille O’Neal wrapping things up with the Suns.
After Steph Curry, the argument can be made that no player is more synonymous with the Warriors dynasty than Thompson, whose big-game, clutch shots were key to the championship victories.
That his last appearance in the blue and gold would have been a 0-16 night, with no points, in a loss to Sacramento in the play-in tournament also feels wrong.
Thompson still averaged 17.9 points in 29.7 minutes this season, suggesting he still has plenty to offer his team.
Thompson should rejoin the Warriors, come off the bench if need be, and chase one more title with the team to whom he is forever linked.
Whether business dictates that is the question, but the desire of the highest-profile players and coaches to get a deal done is promising.
Prediction: Thompson re-signs with Golden State